Signaling Decoded Picture Buffer Size in Multi-Loop Scalable Video Coding

ABSTRACT

A method for encoding a video sequence in a scalable video encoder to generate a scalable bitstream is provided that includes encoding the video sequence in a first layer encoder of the scalable video encoder to generate a first sub-bitstream, encoding the video sequence in a second layer encoder of the scalable video encoder to generate a second sub-bitstream, wherein portions of the video sequence being encoded in the second layer encoder are predicted using reference portions of the video sequence encoded in the first layer encoder, combining the first sub-bitstream and the second sub-bitstream to generate the scalable bitstream, and signaling in the scalable bitstream an indication of a maximum decoded picture buffer (DPB) size needed for decoding the second sub-bitstream and the first sub-bitstream when the second sub-bitstream is a target sub-bitstream for decoding.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 61/748,581, filed Jan. 3, 2013, U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/753,172, filed Jan. 16, 2013, and U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/811,373, filed Apr. 12, 2013,all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser.No. ______ (attorney docket number TI-72923), filed Dec. 20, 2013, whichis incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to video codingand more specifically relate to signaling decoded picture buffer size inmulti-loop scalable video coding.

2. Description of the Related Art

The demand for digital video products continues to increase. Someexamples of applications for digital video include video communication(e.g., video conferencing and multimedia messaging), security andsurveillance, industrial automation, and entertainment (e.g., DV, HDTV,satellite TV, set-top boxes, Internet video streaming, video gamingdevices, digital cameras, cellular telephones, video jukeboxes, high-enddisplays and personal video recorders). Further, video applications arebecoming increasingly mobile as a result of higher computation power inhandsets, advances in battery technology, and high-speed wirelessconnectivity.

Video transmission systems using the internet and mobile networks have awide range of receiving devices, i.e., video endpoints, ranging, forexample, from cellular telephones with small screens to tablet computersto personal computers with high definition displays to videoconferencing systems with large screens. That is, the devices receivinga video transmission may have different resolution, frame rate, andbandwidth capabilities. Scalable video coding (SVC) is one techniquethat may be used to allow a video to be received by a range of receivingdevices according to the capabilities of each device. In general, SVCrefers to encoding a video as a single scalable video bitstream with oneor more subset bitstreams that are adapted to varying video endpointcapabilities, network conditions, and/or user preferences.

A video bitstream may be referred to as scalable when parts of thestream can be removed such that the resulting subset bitstream is avalid bitstream for some target decoder, and the subset bitstreamrepresents the original video content with a reconstruction quality thatis less than that of the complete original bitstream but is high in viewof the lower quantity of data in the subset bitstream. Typically, threescalability modes are considered: temporal, spatial, and quality. Aspatially scaled subset bitstream represents the original video contentat a reduced picture size. A temporally scaled subset bitstreamrepresents the original video content at a reduced frame rate. A qualityscaled subset bitstream represents the original video content at thesame spatial and temporal resolution as the complete bitstream but at alower quality, i.e., signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).

In scalable video coding, a single encoded bitstream, which may bereferred to as a scalable bitstream herein, may include multiple layers(sub-bitstreams) of compressed video data. The base layer is the mostbasic, scaled down compressed data needed to reconstruct the videostream at the lowest spatial resolution, temporal resolution, and/orquality. The remaining compressed video data in the scalable bitstreamis grouped into one or more enhancement layers. Each enhancement layer“builds” on the layer or layers below and includes video data that adecoder can use (in conjunction with data from the lower layer orlayers) to generate an enhanced version of the video stream. Thus, thearchitecture of a video encoder that generates a scalable videobitstream may include a base layer encoder and one or more enhancementlayer encoders. Similarly, the architecture of a video decoder thatdecodes a scalable video bitstream may include a base layer decoder andone or more enhancement layer decoders.

H.264/SVC is an example of a video coding standard that providesscalable video coding. More specifically, H.264/SVC is a scalable videocoding (SVC) extension of H.264/AVC that supports temporal, spatial andquality scalability functions. A summary of H.264/SVC is presented in H.Schwarz, et al., “Overview of The Scalable Video Coding Extension of theH.264/SVC Standard,” IEEE Trans. Circuits and Systems, vol. 17, No. 9,September 2007. The temporal scalability of H.264/SVC allows decoding ofa bitstream at different frame rates by partitioning a set of picturesinto a temporal base layer bitstream and temporal enhancement layerbitstreams. The spatial scalability and quality scalability of H.264/SVCallow encoding of video at different resolutions and qualities as a baselayer bitstream and one or more enhancement layer bitstreams.

In general, a scalable video codec may be based on either a multi-looparchitecture or a single loop architecture. In a single looparchitecture, which is used in H.264/SVC, a full decoding loop takesplace only in the target layer. Inter-coded blocks in intermediatelayers are not reconstructed and sophisticated inter-layer predictiontechniques such as residual prediction and motion prediction are used.In a multi-loop architecture, a full encoding/decoding loop is performedin every layer needed to encode/decode a target layer, thus avoiding theneed for the complex inter-layer prediction techniques. Both intra- andinter-coded blocks are fully reconstructed in all layers and thereconstructed samples from lower layers may be used as reference samplesfor higher layers. The scalable extension currently under development byJoint Collaborative Team on Video Coding (JCT-VC) of ITU-T WP3/16 andISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 29/WG 11 for the recently completed first version ofthe High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard is based on amulti-loop architecture.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods, apparatus, andcomputer readable media for signaling decoded picture buffer size inmulti-loop scalable video coding. In one aspect, a method for encoding avideo sequence in a scalable video encoder to generate a scalablebitstream is provided that includes encoding the video sequence in afirst layer encoder of the scalable video encoder to generate a firstsub-bitstream, encoding the video sequence in a second layer encoder ofthe scalable video encoder to generate a second sub-bitstream, whereinportions of the video sequence being encoded in the second layer encoderare predicted using reference portions of the video sequence encoded inthe first layer encoder, combining the first sub-bitstream and thesecond sub-bitstream to generate the scalable bitstream, and signalingin the scalable bitstream an indication of a maximum decoded picturebuffer (DPB) size needed for decoding the second sub-bitstream and thefirst sub-bitstream when the second sub-bitstream is a targetsub-bitstream for decoding.

In one aspect, a method for decoding a scalable bitstream in a scalablevideo decoder to generate a video sequence is provided that includesdecoding from the scalable bitstream an indication of a maximum decodedpicture buffer (DPB) size needed to decode a first enhancement layersub-bitstream of the scalable bitstream and a reference layersub-bitstream for the first enhancement layer sub-bitstream when thefirst enhancement layer sub-bitstream is decoded as a targetsub-bitstream, and using the indication of the maximum DPB size forfurther processing of the scalable bitstream.

In one aspect, an apparatus configured to decode a scalable bitstream isprovided that includes means for decoding from the scalable bitstream anindication of a maximum decoded picture buffer (DPB) size needed todecode a first enhancement layer sub-bitstream of the scalable bitstreamand a reference layer sub-bitstream for the first enhancement layersub-bitstream when the first enhancement layer sub-bitstream is decodedas a target sub-bitstream, and means for using the indication of themaximum DPB size for further processing of the scalable bitstream.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Particular embodiments will now be described, by way of example only,and with reference to the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a video transmission system configured forscalable video coding;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example scalable video encoder and anexample scalable video decoder;

FIGS. 3-6 are examples;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are flow diagrams of methods; and

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an illustrative digital system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described in detailwith reference to the accompanying figures. Like elements in the variousfigures are denoted by like reference numerals for consistency.

As used herein, the term “picture” may refer to a frame or a field of aframe. A frame is a complete image captured during a known timeinterval. For convenience of description, embodiments of the inventionare described herein in reference to HEVC and the scalable codingextension, referred to herein as SHVC, currently being developed. One ofordinary skill in the art will understand that embodiments of theinvention are not limited to HEVC and SHVC.

In HEVC, a largest coding unit (LCU) is the base unit used forblock-based coding. A picture is divided into non-overlapping LCUs. Thatis, an LCU plays a similar role in coding as the macroblock ofH.264/AVC, but it may be larger, e.g., 32×32, 64×64, etc. An LCU may bepartitioned into coding units (CU) using recursive quadtreepartitioning. A CU is a block of pixels within an LCU and the CUs withinan LCU may be of different sizes. The quadtree is split according tovarious criteria until a leaf is reached, which is referred to as thecoding node or coding unit. The maximum hierarchical depth of thequadtree is determined by the size of the smallest CU (SCU) permitted.The coding node is the root node of two trees, a prediction tree and atransform tree. A prediction tree specifies the position and size ofprediction units (PU) for a coding unit. A transform tree specifies theposition and size of transform units (TU) for a coding unit. A transformunit may not be larger than a coding unit and the size of a transformunit may be, for example, 4×4, 8×8, 16×16, and 32×32. The sizes of thetransforms units and prediction units for a CU are determined by thevideo encoder during prediction based on minimization of rate/distortioncosts.

Various versions of HEVC and SHVC are described in the followingdocuments, which are incorporated by reference herein: T. Wiegand, etal., “WD3: Working Draft 3 of High-Efficiency Video Coding,” JCTVC-E603,Joint Collaborative Team on Video Coding (JCT-VC) of ITU-T SG16 WP3 andISO/IEC JTC1/SC29/WG11, Geneva, CH, Mar. 16-23, 2011 (“WD3”), B. Bross,et al., “WD4: Working Draft 4 of High-Efficiency Video Coding,”JCTVC-F803_d6, Joint Collaborative Team on Video Coding (JCT-VC) ofITU-T SG16 WP3 and ISO/IEC JTC1/SC29/WG11, Torino, IT, Jul. 14-22, 2011(“WD4”), B. Bross. et al., “WD5: Working Draft 5 of High-EfficiencyVideo Coding,” JCTVC-G1103_d9, Joint Collaborative Team on Video Coding(JCT-VC) of ITU-T SG16 WP3 and ISO/IEC JTC1/SC29/WG11, Geneva, CH, Nov.21-30, 2011 (“WD5”), B. Bross, et al., “High Efficiency Video Coding(HEVC) Text Specification Draft 6,” JCTVC-H1003_dK, Joint CollaborativeTeam on Video Coding (JCT-VC) of ITU-T SG16 WP3 and ISO/IECJTC1/SC29/WG1, San Jose, Calif., Feb. 1-10, 2012, (“HEVC Draft 6”), B.Bross, et al., “High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) Text SpecificationDraft 7,” JCTVC-11003_d9, Joint Collaborative Team on Video Coding(JCT-VC) of ITU-T SG16 WP3 and ISO/IEC JTC1/SC29/WG1, Geneva, CH, Apr.17-May 7, 2012 (“HEVC Draft 7”), B. Bross, et al., “High EfficiencyVideo Coding (HEVC) Text Specification Draft 8,” JCTVC-J1003_d7, JointCollaborative Team on Video Coding (JCT-VC) of ITU-T SG16 WP3 andISO/IEC JTC1/SC29/WG1, Stockholm, SE, Jul. 11-20, 2012 (“HEVC Draft 8”),B. Bross, et al., “High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) TextSpecification Draft 9,” JCTVC-K1003_v13, Joint Collaborative Team onVideo Coding (JCT-VC) of ITU-T SG16 WP3 and ISO/IEC JTC1/SC29/WG1,Shanghai, CN, Oct. 10-19, 2012 (“HEVC Draft 9”), B. Bross, et al., “HighEfficiency Video Coding (HEVC) Text Specification Draft 10 (for FDIS &Last Call),” JCTVC-L1003_v34, Joint Collaborative Team on Video Coding(JCT-VC) of ITU-T SG16 WP3 and ISO/IEC JTC1/SC29/WG1, Geneva, CH, Jan.14-23, 2013 (“HEVC Draft 10”), J. Chen, et al., “High Efficiency VideoCoding (HEVC) Scalable Extension Draft 4,” Joint Collaborative Team onVideo Coding (JCT-VC) of ITU-T SG16 WP3 and ISO/IEC JTC1/SC29/WG1,Geneva, CH, Oct. 23-Nov. 1, 2013 (“SHVC Draft 4”), and “High EfficiencyVideo Coding,” ITU-T Rec. H.265|ISO/IEC 23008-2, April 2013(“HEVC/H.265”).

As previously mentioned, the scalable extension of HEVC, SHVC, iscurrently being developed. A multi-loop architecture is proposed forthis extension. Using a multi-loop architecture increases the decodedpicture buffer (DPB) size and the memory bandwidth for motioncompensation in a decoder as compared to a single loop architecture butthe coding efficiency is better as the high correlation between anenhancement layer picture and a reconstructed reference layer picturecan be exploited and any reference layers are not required to useconstrained intra-prediction. A reference layer may be any layer belowthe layer being encoded/decoded. The layer being encoded/decoded may bereferred to as the target layer.

The current HEVC specification, HEVC/H.265, provides for temporalscalability in which pictures may be encoded in a temporal hierarchy oftwo or more temporal levels. Note that HEVC/H.265 designates positionsin the temporal hierarchy as layers rather than levels. The word “level”is used herein to avoid confusion with the use of the word “layer” todescribe the hierarchy positions of a scalable encoder and decoder. Avideo bitstream is temporally scalable when pictures in the bitstreamcan be removed such that the resulting sub-bitstream forms another validbitstream for some target decoder, and the sub-bitstream represents thesource video sequence at a frame rate that is less than the frame rateof the original video sequence. The temporal scalability in HEVC/H.265is achieved by partitioning pictures into a temporal base level, level0, and one or more temporal enhancement layers in which inter-predictionof pictures at a given temporal level is restricted to referencepictures in the same temporal level or in a lower temporal level. Forexample, pictures at temporal level 2 may be inter-predicted usingreference data from pictures in temporal levels 2, 1, or 0 but not frompictures in higher temporal levels, if any.

Embodiments of the invention provide for decreasing the memory bandwidthand/or maximum DPB size needed to decode a target layer of a scalablebitstream in a multi-loop architecture. In some embodiments, amulti-loop scalable encoder signals an indication of the highesttemporal level of reference data used for inter-layer prediction in theencoding of sub-bitstreams in enhancement layers. A multi-loop scalabledecoder, when decoding an enhancement layer, may use the informationregarding the highest temporal level to avoid decoding any pictures in areference layer that are above the signaled level. In some embodiments,a multi-loop scalable encoder signals an indication of the maximumdecoded picture buffer (DPB) size needed for decoding an enhancementlayer sub-bitstream when that sub-bitstream is the target sub-bitstreamfor decoding. This indication allows a decoder to determine the maximumDPB size needed to decode the enhancement layer sub-bitstream and anyreference sub-bitstreams needed for inter-layer prediction. In some suchembodiments, a multi-loop scalable encoder signals for eachsub-bitstream (except the sub-bitstream of the highest enhancementlayer) an indication of the maximum decoded picture buffer (DPB) sizeneeded for decoding the sub-bitstream if the sub-bitstream is not thetarget sub-bitstream, i.e., the non-target maximum DPB size. Amulti-loop scalable decoder with limited DPB space may use theinformation regarding maximum DBP size, for example, to determine whichof the sub-bitstreams, if any, it can decode. In some embodiments, amulti-loop scalable encoder signals both the highest temporal level ofreference data and the maximum DPB size.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a video transmission system configuredfor scalable video coding. The system includes a source digital system100 that transmits encoded video sequences to multiple destinationdigital systems 102, 104 via a communication channel 118. While FIG. 1shows two destination digital systems, the video transmission system mayinclude any number of destination digital systems. The source digitalsystem 100 includes a video capture component 106, a video encodercomponent 108, and a transmitter component 110. The video capturecomponent 106 is configured to provide a video sequence to be encoded bythe video encoder component 108. The video capture component 106 may be,for example, a video camera, a video archive, or a video feed from avideo content provider. In some embodiments, the video capture component104 may generate computer graphics as the video sequence, or acombination of live video, archived video, and/or computer-generatedvideo.

The video encoder component 108 receives a video sequence from the videocapture component 106 and encodes it as a scalable video bit stream fortransmission by the transmitter component 110. In general, the videoencoder component 108 receives the video sequence from the video capturecomponent 106 as a sequence of pictures, divides the pictures intolargest coding units (LCUs), and encodes the video data in the LCUs as abase layer bitstream and one or more enhancement layer bitstreamsproviding spatial, temporal, and/or quality scalability over the baselayer bit stream. The base layer bitstream and the one or moreenhancement layer bitstreams are combined to form a single scalablevideo bit stream for transmission. For spatial scalability, the baselayer bitstream may be encoded at a base spatial resolution and the oneor more enhancement layer bitstreams may be encoded at higher levels ofspatial resolution. An embodiment of the video encoder component 108 isdescribed in more detail below in reference to FIG. 2.

The transmitter component 110 transmits the scalable video bitstream tothe destination digital systems 102,104 via the communication channel118. The communication channel 118 may be any communication medium, orcombination of communication media suitable for transmission of theencoded video sequence, such as, for example, wired or wirelesscommunication media, a local area network, or a wide area network.

The destination digital systems 102, 104 may be any digital systemconfigured to receive and decode scalable video bitstreams. For example,a destination digital system may be a cellular telephone, a video gamingdevice, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computingdevice, a digital television, etc. The destination digital systems 102,104 each include a receiver component 112, 122, a video decodercomponent 114, 124, and a display component 116, 126. The receivercomponents 112, 122 receive the scalable video bitstream from the sourcedigital system 100 via the communication channel 118 and provide theencoded video data to the respective video decoder components 114, 124for decoding.

In general, the video decoder components 114, 122 decode a target layerof the scalable video bitstream to reconstruct the video sequence at adesired level of temporal resolution, spatial resolution, and/orquality. However, the video decoder components 114, 122 may havedifferent decoding capabilities depending on, for example, theresolution of the respective display component 116, 126 and thecomputational and memory resources of the respective destination digitalsystem 102, 104. For example, if destination digital system 102 haslimited memory and computational resources, the video decoder component114 may be configured to decode only the base layer bitstream. Ifdestination digital system 104 has a display with a higher resolutionthan that of the base layer bitstream and sufficient resources, thevideo decoder component 124 may be configured to decode an enhancementlayer bitstream appropriate for the higher resolution. An embodiment ofthe video decoder components 114, 124 is described in more detail belowin reference to FIG. 2.

The respective reconstructed video sequences are displayed on therespective display components 116, 126. The display components 116, 126may be any suitable display devices such as, for example, a plasmadisplay, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED)display, etc.

In some embodiments, the source digital system 100 may also include areceiver component and a video decoder component and/or the destinationdigital systems 102, 104 may include a transmitter component and a videoencoder component for transmission of video sequences in both directionsfor video streaming, video broadcasting, and video telephony. The videoencoder component 108 and the video decoder components 114, 124 may beimplemented in any suitable combination of software, firmware, andhardware, such as, for example, one or more digital signal processors(DSPs), microprocessors, discrete logic, application specific integratedcircuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), etc.

FIG. 2 shows a high level block diagram of a three spatial layerconfiguration of a scalable video encoder 200 and a scalable videodecoder 220. The general functionality of a scalable video encoder anddecoder is well known and thus is not described in detail herein. Forillustration, FIG. 2 shows an encoder structure 200 with three spatiallayers, a base layer encoder 202 and two enhancement layer encoders 204,206, and a decoder structure 220 with a base layer decoder 222 and twoenhancement layer decoders 224, 226. One of ordinary skill in the artwill understand embodiments in which the scalable video encoder 200 andthe scalable video decoder 220 may include more or fewer enhancementlayers.

A coarse-to-fine hierarchy of images is encoded. That is, the inputhigh-resolution video sequence input into the highest enhancement layerencoder 206 is converted to lower resolutions for the intermediateenhancement layer encoder 204 and the base layer encoder 202 byfiltering and decimation. Each layer of the scalable video encoder 200is basically an HEVC video encoder extended to support inter-layerprediction. The base layer encoder 202 encodes the lowest resolution ofthe input video sequence as an HEVC compliant bitstream and theenhancement layer encoders 204, 206 encode higher resolutions of theinput video sequence according to HEVC with the addition of anyfunctionality needed for enhancement layer encoding, e.g., inter-layerprediction. The output bitstreams of the layer encoders are multiplexed212 to form the scalable video bitstream. As is explained in more detailbelow, the scalable encoder 200 may add additional metadata to thescalable video bitstream corresponding to one or more of the outputbitstreams.

In each encoder layer, motion-compensated prediction andintra-prediction as well as coding functions such as quantization,transformation, entropy coding, and deblocking are performed to generatethe corresponding output sub-bitstreams. Inter-layer prediction is alsoprovided in the enhancement layer encoders 204, 206 to improve thecompression efficiency between layers. Inter-layer prediction exploitsthe redundancy between the layers by providing inter-layer sampleprediction, residual prediction, and motion prediction between anenhancement layer and one or more reference layers. Inter-layer sampleprediction uses co-located reconstructed samples from lower layers asreference samples for higher layers. Inter-layer residual prediction,which used mainly in a single-loop architecture, predicts residualsignals in higher layers from lower-layer residual signals. In amulti-loop scalable encoder, inter-layer residual prediction may not beused since the majority of redundancy is removed by inter-layer sampleprediction. Inter-layer motion prediction predicts motion vectors inhigher layers from lower-layer motion vectors. At present, SHVC asdescribed in SHVC Draft 4 provides for inter-layer sample prediction andinter-layer motion prediction.

The up-sampler 208 up-samples the reference data (reconstructedpictures) from the base layer encoder 202 to the resolution of the inputvideo sequence of the enhancement layer encoder 204 for use ininter-layer prediction. Similarly, the up-sampler 210 up-samples thereference data (reconstructed pictures) from the intermediateenhancement layer encoder 204 to the resolution of the input videosequence of the top enhancement layer encoder 206 for use in inter-layerprediction. Although not explicitly shown for the sake of simplicity,the top enhancement layer encoder 206 may also use reference data fromthe base layer encoder 202 for inter-layer prediction and appropriateupsampling is provided.

Each of the encoders 202, 204, 206 supports temporal scalability asdefined by HEVC. Thus, the input video sequences to each of the encodersmay be encoded in multiple temporal levels and reference pictures fromone or more temporal levels may be used for inter-layer prediction. Insome embodiments, the scalable encoder 200 signals in the scalablebitstream an indication of the highest temporal level of reconstructedpictures from an encoder layer that are used for inter-layer prediction.This indication may be, for example, the actual level number or someother value representative of the level number. For example, considerthe simple example of temporal scalable encoding in FIG. 3. In thisexample, there are four temporal levels and a group of pictures (GOP) ofsize 8 is assumed. The dashed lines illustrate the reference picturesused for prediction. For simplicity, reference pictures for only onepicture in the temporal levels above level 1 are shown. If this temporalencoding is performed in the base layer encoder 202 and the pictures inlevel 0 and level 1 are used for inter-layer prediction by anenhancement layer encoder, an indication that the highest temporal levelused for inter-layer prediction in the base layer bitstream (BLbitstream) is level 1 is signaled in the scalable bitstream. Similarly,if this temporal encoding is performed in the enhancement layer encoder204 and the pictures in level 0 and level 1 are used for inter-layerprediction by the enhancement layer encoder 206, an indication that thehighest temporal level used for inter-layer prediction in theintermediate enhancement layer bitstream (EL1 bitstream) is level 1 issignaled in the scalable bitstream.

In some embodiments, the scalable encoder 200 signals in the scalablebitstream an indication of the maximum decoded picture buffer (DPB) sizeneeded for decoding an enhancement layer bitstream when that bitstreamis the target bitstream for decoding. In some such embodiments, thisindication may be signaled in addition to any indication of the highesttemporal level used for inter-layer prediction. In some suchembodiments, the signaling of indication of the highest temporal levelused for inter-layer prediction is not supported. This indication maybe, for example, an integer number of pictures or any other value thatindicates a maximum number of pictures that need to be stored in theDPB. In some embodiments, the indication of the maximum DPB size may bea total maximum DPB size needed to decode the particular enhancementlayer bitstream and any lower layer bitstreams needed for inter-layerprediction. In some embodiments, the indication of the maximum DPB sizemaybe be maximum DPB sizes corresponding to each layer bitstream (exceptthe top enhancement layer bitstream) that indicate the maximum DPB sizeneed to decode the layer bitstream when the layer bitstream is not thetarget bitstream, i.e., when the layer bitstream is used as a referencebitstream.

As is explained in more detail in reference to the description of thescalable decoder 220, such information may allow a scalable decoder withlimited space for DPB storage to decode bitstreams that it might nototherwise be able to decode. A decoded picture buffer (DPB) is a bufferfor holding decoded pictures for reference, output reordering, outputdelay, etc. HEVC specifies the maximum number of pictures to be storedin a DPB in a decoder based on level and profile. As currently defined,the maximum number of pictures in a DPB may be 16, 12, 8, or 6,depending on the expected picture size as specified by the level, wherethe maximum number of pictures decreases as the picture size increases.Current level definitions for HEVC may be found in Annex A ofHEVC/H.265. To decode a target bitstream from the scalable bitstream,the corresponding compliant layer decoder needs to have the maximum DPBsize available for the particular profile and level of scalablebitstream as all pictures in the target bitstream must be decoded.

However, it may not be necessary to decode all pictures in layerbitstreams below the target layer bitstream, which may reduce themaximum DPB size needed to decode such bitstreams. For example, if alower layer bitstream is encoded using temporal levels and anyinter-layer prediction in the target layer bitstream uses reference datafrom a subset of the temporal levels in the lower layer bitstream, it isnot necessary to decode all pictures in the lower layer bitstream inorder to decode the target bitstream. Consider the example of FIG. 4.This example shows corresponding portions of a base layer bitstream(BL), an intermediate enhancement layer bitstream (EL1), and a topenhancement layer bitstream (EL2). Four temporal levels are assumed foreach encoding layer and the labels Lx, x=0, 1, 2, 3 where x is thetemporal level, indicate the temporal level of each picture. A GOP ofsize 8 is assumed. The dashed lines illustrate the reference picturesused for prediction. For simplicity, reference pictures for only twopictures in the temporal levels above level 1 are shown. In the BL andEL1 bitstreams, the shaded pictures are used for inter-layer prediction.Further, the picture size is assumed to be high definition such thatHEVC requires a DPB sized for six pictures when all pictures must bedecoded.

In this example, if the base layer bitstream is the target bitstream fordecoding, a DPB sized for 6 pictures is required. If the targetbitstream for decoding is the ELI bitstream, a DPB sized for 6 picturesis required for decoding in the ELI layer decoder. However, given theprediction hierarchy of the base layer bitstream and the pictures thatare used for inter-layer prediction, a DPB sized for 2 pictures isneeded for decoding this bitstream when it is not the target bitstreamas any pictures not in temporal layers 0 and 1 need not be decoded andthe maximum picture storage needed at any given time during decoding is2 pictures. If the target bitstream for decoding is the EL2 bitstream,then a DPB sized for 6 pictures is required for decoding in the EL2decoder. As previously explained, the maximum DPB picture storage neededfor decoding the BL bitstream is 2 pictures. For the ELI bitstream,given the prediction hierarchy of the bitstream and the pictures thatare used for inter-layer prediction, a DPB sized for 3 pictures isneeded for decoding this bitstream when it is not the target bitstreamas any pictures not in temporal layers 0 and 1 need not be decoded andthe maximum picture storage needed at any given time during decoding is3 pictures. Thus, in some embodiments, the scalable encoder may signalin the scalable bitstream an indication that the maximum DPB size neededto decode the EL2 bitstream as the target bitstream along with anyreference bitstreams is 11 and an indication that the maximum DPB sizeneeded to decode the ELI bitstream as the target bitstream along anyreference bitstreams is 8. In some such embodiments, the scalableencoder 200 may signal the indications of maximum DPB sizes needed fordecoding as indications that the maximum non-target DBP size for the BLbitstream is 2 pictures and the maximum non-target DBP size for the EL1bitstream is 3 pictures. There is no maximum non-target DPB size to besignaled for the EL2 bitstream as this bitstream cannot be used forinter-layer prediction of any other bitstream.

The scalable encoder 200 may signal the highest temporal levelindications and/or the maximum DBP size indications, for example, in avideo parameter set (VPS) corresponding to the three sub-bitstreams. InHEVC, the VPS provides metadata to describe the overall characteristicsof corresponding coded video sequences, including the dependenciesbetween temporal levels. The VPS may be further extended in SHVC toinclude the signaling of overall characteristics of base layer andenhancement layer bitstreams in a scalable bitstream includinginformation regarding highest temporal layers used for inter-layerprediction and/or maximum DBP sizes.

The scalable decoder 220 de-multiplexes 232 the scalable bitstream toseparate out the base layer bitstream, the intermediate enhancementlayer bitstream, and the top enhancement layer bitstream and directsthese bitstreams to the appropriate layer encoder 222, 224, 226 asneeded to decode a target bitstream to generate an output videosequence. Each layer of the scalable video decoder 220 is basically anHEVC video decoder extended to support decoding of bitstreams encodedusing inter-layer prediction. The base layer decoder 222 decodes thelowest resolution bitstream, i.e., the base layer bitstream, as an HEVCcompliant bitstream and the enhancement layer decoders 224, 226 decodethe corresponding higher resolution bitstreams according to HEVC withthe addition of any functionality needed for enhancement layer decoding,e.g., inter-layer prediction. The up-sampler 228 up-samples thereference data (reconstructed pictures) from the base layer decoder 222to the resolution of the input bitstream of the enhancement layerdecoder 224 for use in decoding when inter-layer prediction isindicated. Similarly, the up-sampler 230 up-samples the reference data(reconstructed pictures) from the intermediate enhancement layer decoder224 to the resolution of the input bitstream of the top enhancementlayer decoder 226 for use in decoding when inter-layer prediction isindicated. Although not explicitly shown for the sake of simplicity, thetop enhancement layer decoder 226 may also use reference data from thebase layer decoder 222 for decoding when inter-layer prediction isindicated and appropriate upsampling is provided.

Prior to de-multiplexing the bitstreams, the scalable decoder 220 maydetermine the target layer to be decoded for output, thus allowing thedecoder 220 to ignore any bitstreams for layers above the target layer.For example, if the target bitstream to be decoded is the intermediateenhancement layer bitstream, the decoder 220 can ignore the topenhancement layer bitstream in the scalable bitstream. Further, in someembodiments, the scalable decoder 220 decodes metadata in the scalablebitstream that indicates maximum DPB sizes needed for decoding theenhancement layer bitstreams (and their reference bitstreams) if thesebitstreams are selected as the target bitstream. In some suchembodiments, this metadata indicates a maximum DPB size needed fordecoding the intermediate layer bitstream and the base layer bitstreamwhen these bitstreams are not the target bitstream. The metadata may beencoded, for example, in a VPS corresponding to the three bitstreams.The decoder 220 may use the indicated maximum DPB sizes to determinewhether or not the decoder 220 has sufficient DPB capacity to decode thetarget bitstream. For example, as previously explained, HEVC specifies amaximum DPB size needed for decoding a bitstream of a given level. Inorder to decode the target bitstream, the decoder 220 should havestorage capacity for this maximum DPB size. Further, the decoder 220should have sufficient storage capacity to decode those pictures of thelayer bitstreams below the target bitstream that might be used forinter-layer prediction in the target bitstreams.

The decoder 220 may use the indicated maximum DPB size to determine themaximum DPB size needed for decoding the target bit-stream (with allreference bitstreams). If the decoder 220 does not have the DPB storagecapacity needed, the decoder 220 may, for example, not decode the targetbitstream and indicate an error or select another target bitstream forwhich it has sufficient DPB storage capacity to decode. For example,consider the simple example of FIG. 4. Recalling the previously statedassumptions for this example, if the target bitstream is the ELIbitstream, the maximum DPB capacity needed by the decoder 220 is 6pictures for the EL1 bitstream and 2 pictures for the BL bitstream. Ifthe target bitstream is the EL2 bitstream, the maximum DPB capacityneeded by the decoder 220 is 6 pictures for the EL2 bitstream, 3pictures for the EL1 bitstream, and 2 pictures for the BL bitstream.Note that in this example if the maximum DPB sizes are not signaled, themaximum DPB capacity needed by the decoder 220 for decoding the EL2bitstream must be assumed to be 18 pictures and for decoding the EL1bitstream must be assumed to be 12 pictures, even though fewer picturesare actually needed.

In some embodiments, the scalable decoder 220 decodes metadata in thescalable bitstream that indicates highest temporal levels in each of thebase layer bitstream and the intermediate enhancement layer bitstreamhaving pictures used as reference pictures for inter-layer prediction.This metadata may be encoded, for example, in a VPS corresponding to thethree bitstreams. The indicated highest temporal levels are provided tothe corresponding layer decoders 222, 224. The indicated highesttemporal level may be used by a layer decoder when the bitstream beingdecoded is not the target bitstream to avoid decoding any pictures inhigher temporal levels as these pictures will not be needed for decodingof pictures used for inter-layer prediction. Put another way, given theindicated highest temporal level, a level decoder, when decoding abitstream that is not the target bitstream, only decodes pictures in theindicated temporal level and any temporal levels below the indicatedlevel.

For example, consider the simple examples in FIGS. 5 and 6 of temporallyencoded bitstreams for, respectively, a base layer bitstream and anintermediate enhancement layer bitstream. In these examples, there arefour temporal levels and a group of pictures (GOP) of size 8 is assumed.The dashed lines illustrate the reference pictures used for prediction.The shaded pictures indicate pictures that are used for inter-layerprediction. For simplicity, reference pictures for only one picture inthe temporal levels above level 1 are shown in FIG. 5 and referencepictures for only one picture in each of the temporal levels above level1 are shown in FIG. 6. For the base layer bitstream of FIG. 5, anindication that the highest temporal level used for inter-layerprediction is level 1 is decoded from the scalable bitstream. Similarly,for the intermediate enhancement layer bitstream of FIG. 6, anindication that the highest temporal level used for inter-layerprediction is level 2 is decoded from the scalable bitstream. If thetarget bitstream to be decoded by the decoder 220 is the intermediateenhancement level bitstream, the base layer decoder 222 will only decodepictures in temporal layers 0 and 1, and the pictures in the otherlayers (designated by dashed lines in FIG. 5) will not be decoded, thusreducing the overall memory bandwidth needed. Similarly, if the targetbitstream to be decoded by the decoder 220 is the top level enhancementbitstream, the base layer decoder 222 will only decode pictures intemporal layers 0 and 1 and the intermediate enhancement layer decoder224 will only decode pictures in temporal layers 0, 1, and 2.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a method for encoding of a video sequence ina scalable multi-loop video encoder to generate a scalable bitstream,e.g., the scalable video encoder of FIG. 2. For simplicity ofdescription, the scalable video encoder is assumed to have a base layerencoder, an intermediate enhancement layer encoder, and a topenhancement layer encoder. One of ordinary skill in the art willunderstand embodiments in which a scalable video encoder may have moreor fewer enhancement layers.

The video sequence is encoded 700 in each of the base layer encoder, theintermediate enhancement level encoder, and the top enhancement layerencoder. The output of each of these layer encoders is, respectively, abase layer bitstream, an intermediate enhancement layer bitstream, and atop enhancement layer bitstream. For encoding in the intermediate levelencoder and the base layer encoder, the video sequence may bedownsampled to different levels of spatial resolution, with the baselayer encoding the video sequence at the lowest level of spatialresolution. The base layer encoder encodes the input video sequence asan HEVC compliant bitstream. The enhancement layer encoders encode therespective higher resolution input video sequences according to HEVCwith the addition of any functionality needed for enhancement layerencoder, e.g., inter-layer prediction. Further, each layer encoder mayencode the respective input video sequence using temporal scalability asdefined by HEVC. Thus, any pictures used for inter-layer prediction bythe enhancement layers may refer to pictures encoded at differingtemporal levels in a reference layer bitstream.

The three sub-bitstreams are combined 702 to generate the scalablebitstream. Further, for each of the base layer bitstream and theintermediate enhancement level bitstream, an indication of the highesttemporal level having pictures used for inter-layer prediction issignaled 704 as metadata in the scalable bitstream. In addition, foreach enhancement layer bitstream, an indication of the maximum DPB sizeneeded to decode the enhancement layer bitstream and any reference layerbitstreams when the enhancement layer bitstream is the target bitstreamfor decoding is signaled 706 as metadata in the scalable bitstream. Insome embodiments, the indication of the maximum DPB size is in the formof indications of the maximum DPB sizes needed for decoding each of thebase layer bitstream and the intermediate layer bitstream when thesebitstreams are not the decoder target bitstream. Note that a scalablevideo encoder will know these highest temporal levels and the maximumDPB sizes based on the actual temporal prediction hierarchies used inencoding the bitstreams and the actual inter-layer prediction used inencoding the bitstreams. In some embodiments, the indications of maximumDPB sizes and highest inter-layer prediction temporal levels aresignaled in a VPS corresponding to the three bitstreams.

While the method of FIG. 7 has been described as signaling both highesttemporal levels and maximum DPB sizes, one of ordinary skill in the artwill understand embodiments in which highest temporal levels aresignaled and maximum DPB sizes are not signaled and vice versa.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a method for decoding a target bitstream ofa scalable bitstream in a scalable multi-loop video decoder to generatean output video sequence, e.g., the scalable video decoder of FIG. 2.For simplicity of description, the scalable bitstream is assumed toinclude a base layer bitstream, an intermediate enhancement layerbitstream, and a top enhancement layer bitstream and the scalable videodecoder is assumed to have a base layer decoder, an intermediateenhancement layer decoder, and a top enhancement layer decoder. One ofordinary skill in the art will understand embodiments in which ascalable video decoder may have more or fewer enhancement layers and/orthe scalable bitstream may have more or fewer enhancement bitstreams.

Initially, indications of maximum DPB sizes for decoding the twoenhancement layer bitstreams as target bitstreams together with anyreference layers are decoded 800 from the scalable bitstream. In someembodiments, these indications are signaled as indications of maximumnon-target DPB sizes for the base layer bitstream and the intermediateenhancement layer bitstream. In some embodiments, the maximum DPB sizesare signaled in a VPS corresponding to the three bitstreams. These sizesare then used by the scalable decoder to determine 802 whether or notthe decoder has sufficient DPB space to decode the desired targetbitstream of the scalable bitstream. For example, consider thepreviously described example of FIG. 4. In this example, the maximumnon-target DPB size for the base layer (BL) bitstream is 2 and themaximum non-target DPB size for the intermediate enhancement layer (ELI)bitstream is 3. If the target bitstream for decoding is the ELIbitstream, DPB memory for 8 pictures is required to decode it, 6 fordecoding the ELI bitstream, and 2 for decoding the BL bitstream. If thetarget bitstream for decoding is the EL2 bitstream, DPB memory for 11pictures is required to decode it, 6 for decoding the EL2 bitstream, 3for decoding the ELI bitstream, and 2 for decoding the BL bitstream.

If the scalable decoder does not have sufficient DPB memory to decodethe desired target bitstream, the method ends and the decoder may takeappropriate action in response to the insufficient DBP memory. Forexample, the decoder may select another target bitstream to decode forwhich it has sufficient DPB memory or the decoder may signal an error.If the scalable decoder has sufficient DPB memory to decode the desiredtarget bitstream, then, for each of the base layer bitstream and theintermediate layer bitstream, an indication of the highest temporallevel in the bitstream that includes pictures used as reference picturesfor inter-layer prediction is decoded 804 from the scalable bitstream.In some embodiments, the highest inter-layer prediction temporal levelsare signaled in a VPS corresponding to the three bitstreams.

The target bitstream is then decoded 806 to generate the output videosequence and any needed reference bitstreams for decoding the targetbitstream are also decoded 808 from the scalable bitstream based on thecorresponding highest inter-layer prediction temporal levels signaled.More specifically, if the target bitstream is the intermediateenhancement level bitstream, the intermediate enhancement layerbitstream is decoded by the intermediate enhancement layer decoder. And,if some of the video data in the intermediate enhancement layerbitstream is inter-layer predicted using reference data from pictures inthe base layer bitstream, the pictures of the base layer bitstream thatare in the signaled highest temporal level for the base level bitstreamand pictures in any lower temporal level are decoded in the base layerdecoder to be available as needed for inter-layer prediction signaled inthe intermediate enhancement layer bitstream. Any pictures in the baselevel bitstream in temporal levels above the signaled highest temporallevel are not decoded.

Further, if the target bitstream is the top enhancement level bitstream,the top enhancement layer bitstream is decoded by the top enhancementlayer decoder. If some of the video data in the top enhancement layerbitstream is inter-layer predicted using reference data from pictures inthe intermediate enhancement layer bitstream, the pictures of theintermediate enhancement layer bitstream that are in the signaledhighest temporal level for this bitstream and pictures in any lowertemporal level are decoded in the intermediate layer decoder to beavailable as needed for inter-layer prediction signaled in the topenhancement layer bitstream. Any pictures in the intermediateenhancement level bitstream in temporal levels above the signaledhighest temporal level are not decoded. And, if some of the video datain the top enhancement layer bitstream and/or the intermediateenhancement layer bitstream is inter-layer predicted using referencedata from pictures in the base layer bitstream, the pictures of the baselayer bitstream that are in the signaled highest temporal level for thisbitstream and pictures in any lower temporal level are decoded in thebase layer decoder to be available as needed for inter-layer predictionsignaled in the top enhancement layer bitstream and the intermediateenhancement layer bitstream. Any pictures in the base level bitstream intemporal levels above the signaled highest temporal level are notdecoded.

While the method of FIG. 8 has been described assuming signaling of bothhighest temporal levels and maximum DPB sizes in the scalable bitstream,one of ordinary skill in the art will understand embodiments in whichhighest temporal levels are signaled and maximum DPB sizes are notsignaled and vice versa.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an example digital system suitable for useas an embedded system that may be configured to encode a video sequenceinto a scalable bitstream and/or to decode a scalable bitstream asdescribed herein. This example system-on-a-chip (SoC) is representativeof one of a family of DaVinci™ Digital Media Processors, available fromTexas Instruments, Inc. This SoC is described in more detail in“TMS320DM6467 Digital Media System-on-Chip”, SPRS403G, December 2007 orlater, which is incorporated by reference herein.

The SoC 900 is a programmable platform designed to meet the processingneeds of applications such as video encode/decode/transcode/transrate,video surveillance, video conferencing, set-top box, medical imaging,media server, gaming, digital signage, etc. The SoC 900 provides supportfor multiple operating systems, multiple user interfaces, and highprocessing performance through the flexibility of a fully integratedmixed processor solution. The device combines multiple processing coreswith shared memory for programmable video and audio processing with ahighly-integrated peripheral set on common integrated substrate.

The dual-core architecture of the SoC 900 provides benefits of both DSPand Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) technologies, incorporatinga DSP core and an ARM926EJ-S core. The ARM926EJ-S is a 32-bit RISCprocessor core that performs 32-bit or 16-bit instructions and processes32-bit, 16-bit, or 8-bit data. The DSP core is a TMS320C64x+TM core witha very-long-instruction-word (VLIW) architecture. In general, the ARM isresponsible for configuration and control of the SoC 900, including theDSP Subsystem, the video data conversion engine (VDCE), and a majorityof the peripherals and external memories. The switched central resource(SCR) is an interconnect system that provides low-latency connectivitybetween master peripherals and slave peripherals. The SCR is thedecoding, routing, and arbitration logic that enables the connectionbetween multiple masters and slaves that are connected to it.

The SoC 900 also includes application-specific hardware logic, on-chipmemory, and additional on-chip peripherals. The peripheral set includes:a configurable video port (Video Port I/F), an Ethernet MAC (EMAC) witha Management Data Input/Output (MDIO) module, a 4-bit transfer/4-bitreceive VLYNQ interface, an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) businterface, multichannel audio serial ports (McASP), general-purposetimers, a watchdog timer, a configurable host port interface (HPI);general-purpose input/output (GPIO) with programmable interrupt/eventgeneration modes, multiplexed with other peripherals, UART interfaceswith modem interface signals, pulse width modulators (PWM), an ATAinterface, a peripheral component interface (PCI), and external memoryinterfaces (EMIFA, DDR2). The video port I/F is a receiver andtransmitter of video data with two input channels and two outputchannels that may be configured for standard definition television(SDTV) video data, high definition television (HDTV) video data, and rawvideo data capture.

As shown in FIG. 9, the SoC 900 includes two high-definitionvideo/imaging coprocessors (HDVICP) and a video data conversion engine(VDCE) to offload many video and image processing tasks from the DSPcore. The VDCE supports video frame resizing, anti-aliasing, chrominancesignal format conversion, edge padding, color blending, etc. The HDVICPcoprocessors are designed to perform computational operations requiredfor video encoding and/or decoding such as motion estimation, motioncompensation, intra-prediction, transformation, inverse transformation,quantization, and inverse quantization. Further, the distinct circuitryin the HDVICP coprocessors that may be used for specific computationoperations is designed to operate in a pipeline fashion under thecontrol of the ARM subsystem and/or the DSP subsystem.

As was previously mentioned, the SoC 900 may be configured to encode avideo sequence into a scalable bitstream and/or to decode a scalablebitstream as described herein as described herein. For example, highlevel coding control for scalable encoding and/or decoding may beexecuted on the DSP subsystem or the ARM subsystem and at least some ofthe computational operations of encoding a video sequence as a scalablebitstream and/or decoding a scalable bitstream may be executed on theHDVICP coprocessors.

Other Embodiments

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited numberof embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of thisdisclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised whichdo not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein.

Embodiments of the methods, encoders, and decoders described herein maybe implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combinationthereof. If completely or partially implemented in software, thesoftware may be executed in one or more processors, such as amicroprocessor, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA), or digital signal processor (DSP). Thesoftware instructions may be initially stored in a computer-readablemedium and loaded and executed in the processor. In some cases, thesoftware instructions may also be sold in a computer program product,which includes the computer-readable medium and packaging materials forthe computer-readable medium. In some cases, the software instructionsmay be distributed via removable computer readable media, via atransmission path from computer readable media on another digitalsystem, etc. Examples of computer-readable media include non-writablestorage media such as read-only memory devices, writable storage mediasuch as disks, flash memory, memory, or a combination thereof.

It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover anysuch modifications of the embodiments as fall within the true scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for encoding a video sequence in ascalable video encoder to generate a scalable bitstream, the methodcomprising: encoding the video sequence in a first layer encoder of thescalable video encoder to generate a first sub-bitstream; encoding thevideo sequence in a second layer encoder of the scalable video encoderto generate a second sub-bitstream, wherein portions of the videosequence being encoded in the second layer encoder are predicted usingreference portions of the video sequence encoded in the first layerencoder; combining the first sub-bitstream and the second sub-bitstreamto generate the scalable bitstream; and signaling in the scalablebitstream an indication of a maximum decoded picture buffer (DPB) sizeneeded for decoding the second sub-bitstream and the first sub-bitstreamwhen the second sub-bitstream is a target sub-bitstream for decoding. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of a maximum DPB sizecomprises an indication of a maximum DPB size needed for decoding thefirst sub-bitstream as a reference sub-bitstream.
 3. The method of claim1, wherein the first layer encoder layer is a base layer encoder of thescalable video encoder.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the firstlayer encoder is an enhancement layer encoder of the scalable videoencoder.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the maximumDPB size is signaled in a video parameter set.
 6. A method for decodinga scalable bitstream in a scalable video decoder to generate a videosequence, the method comprising: decoding from the scalable bitstream anindication of a maximum decoded picture buffer (DPB) size needed todecode a first enhancement layer sub-bitstream of the scalable bitstreamand a reference layer sub-bitstream for the first enhancement layersub-bitstream when the first enhancement layer sub-bitstream is decodedas a target sub-bitstream; and using the indication of the maximum DPBsize for further processing of the scalable bitstream.
 7. The method ofclaim 6, wherein using the indication of the maximum DPB size comprisesusing the indication of the maximum DPB size to determine if thescalable video decoder has sufficient DPB memory to decode the firstenhancement layer sub-bitstream.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein theindication of a maximum DPB size comprises an indication of a maximumDPB size needed for decoding the reference layer sub-bitstream as anon-target sub-bitstream.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein thereference layer sub-bitstream is a base layer sub-bitstream.
 10. Themethod of claim 6, wherein the reference layer sub-bitstream is a secondenhancement layer sub-bitstream.
 11. The method of claim 6, wherein theindication of the highest temporal level is decoded from a videoparameter set.
 12. An apparatus configured to decode a scalablebitstream, the apparatus comprising: means for decoding from thescalable bitstream an indication of a maximum decoded picture buffer(DPB) size needed to decode a first enhancement layer sub-bitstream ofthe scalable bitstream and a reference layer sub-bitstream for the firstenhancement layer sub-bitstream when the first enhancement layersub-bitstream is decoded as a target sub-bitstream; and means for usingthe indication of the maximum DPB size for further processing of thescalable bitstream.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the means forusing the indication of the maximum DPB size uses the indication of themaximum DPB size to determine if the scalable video decoder hassufficient DPB memory to decode the first enhancement layersub-bitstream.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the indication ofa maximum DPB size comprises an indication of a maximum DPB size neededfor decoding the reference layer sub-bitstream as a non-targetsub-bitstream.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the referencelayer sub-bitstream is a base layer sub-bitstream.
 16. The apparatus ofclaim 12, wherein the reference layer sub-bitstream is a secondenhancement layer sub-bitstream.
 17. The apparatus of claim 12, whereinthe indication of the highest temporal level is decoded from a videoparameter set.